Process for the manufacture of spun goods, fabrics, and other textiles



. the aid of swelling agents and,

f ing agents and any mechanical treatment must Patented June 14, 1938.

PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE or SPUN GOODS, FABRJG' 5, OTHER TEXTILESOskar Walter Becker Weinheim, Germany,

' enberg G. m. b. 11.,

man company No brewing. Application September Serial No. 39,864.

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a process for the manufacture of spun goods,fabrics and other textiles, with the employment or co-employment ofthreads obtained from animal hide material.

According to this invention it has been found that textiles as aforesaidcan be manufactured with the employment of threads, whicli have beenobtained by converting the hide material with if desired, by mechanicaltreatment, into a pasty slippery condition whilst maintaining the fibresand thereafter extruding the paste under high pressure through taperingnozzles.

It was-contrary to all expectation that it would be possible directly toobtain threads, adapted to be spun and woven and subjected toothertextile operations, merely by converting the skin or hide into a pasteand extruding this paste under high pressure through tapering nozzles. v

The treatment of the hide material with swell-- be continued until afibre-containing paste of slippery consistency is obtained, in which theabsorbed water is fixed as swelling water, i. e. is

' incapable of being expressed even under the application of pressure,and in which the individual fibres can readily slide over one another.Threads of the diameter customarily employed in the manufacture oftextiles can only be produced from a paste of the aforesaid consistencyby direct' extrusion through nozzles.

The process of this invention is carried into effeet by causing the hidematerial to undergo extensive swelling either in an alkaline or an acidmedium. A treatment also be followed by a treatment with acid liquids.The treatment is preferably not carried out in the neighbourhood of theisoelectric point, but either in a pronounced alkaline medium at pHvalues over 12, or in a pronounced acid medium at pH values below 4. Theskin or hide may for example be subjected to prolonged liming and be-.thereafter treated with acids, particularly hydrochloric acid. Otheracids, such as formic acid or lactic acidymay be employedinstead ofhydrochloric acid. The swelling treatment may also be carried outexclusively in an alkaline medium, for example in milk of lime or dilutecaustic soda solution or successively in both.

The swelling treatment may bepromoted by mechanical treatments, such ascomminuting, pounding, pressing and the like. It is finally advisable tohomogenize the fibrous paste by treating the same in a kneading machineor mixer,

Weinhelm,

In Germany September with alkaline liquids may and Hans Freudenberg,assignors to Carl Freud- Germany; a Gerwhereby the fibrous pulp may alsobe adjusted to the desired water content.

In general it is advisable to prepare a fibrous hide paste, whichcontains atleast 80% of water in order to enable technically obtainablepressures to be employed for extruding the paste through nozzles. It isadvisable to adjust the fibrous hidepaste to a content of 6 to 12% ofdry substance. Satisfactory results have, however, also been obtainedwith masses having a still lower content of dry substance. I

The fibrous hide paste prepared as aforesaid is extruded under- 'high.pressure through nozzles. Constantly and gradually tapering long nozzlesmay be used, in which event the fibrous hide -mass acquires only arelatively slight-acceleration during extrusion. Nozzles, which taperconsiderably along a relatively smalliength may, however, also be used.The diameter of the discharge opening of the nozzles should in generalamount to from 0.01 to 0.5, mm. Nozzles of smaller or greater, diametermay also be used, depending'on thethickness of thread required in thefurther working .up thereof into textiles. The characteristic feature ofthis invention is that the threads required forthe further working upinto textiles are obtained by extruding the fibrous hide massthrough thenozzles directly, 1. e. without subsequent further comminution orshredding.

In the further development of this invention it has been found thattextiles can be manufactured with the employment of short threads, whichhave been obtained by effecting the production of the threads from thefibrous hide paste, for example the extrusion through'nozzles, or thefurther working up of the filaments, for example the withdrawal thereof,under such conditions that the artificial threads are divided into shortpieces.

The production of the shdrt threads is for example efiected by employinga periodically changing pressure when extruding the fibrous hide pastethrough tapering nozzles. Slibrt threads tanning?" The resulting short75 are kneaded with 0.1% caustic soda solutiong areconveyed by means ofa perforated belt into general the operation is carried out in such away as to produce short threads 3 to 5 cms. in length.

The thread discharging from the nozzle may be dried in a manner knownper se, the colloid substance contained in surface of the thread to besized. The sized thread can be rendered waterproof by treatmentwithtanning agents. An alternative procedure is directly to tan the threadsdischarging from the nozzles, for example by intercepting the threads ina suitable tanning bath. A second alternative is to size the threads,obtained by extrusion through nozzles and torn into short pieces bybeing taken up on an intermittently moving belt, by drying them on thisbelt or to tan them by spraying with tanning liquids. A thirdalternative is -to cause the discharging threads to be taken up onbelts, particularly intermittently moving belts, which pass beneathtanning liquids.

In many cases it is advisable to twist the threads discharging from thenozzles before or during the sizing operation. Several threads may alsobe twisted together. It is sometimes advisable again to render thealready sized threads sticky and only thereafter to twist the individualthreads or bunches or threads. In this event the threads may be renderedwaterproof with the aid of tanning agents before, during or after thetwisting operation.

The threads may also be treated in the course of their production withagents which are adapted to improve their properties. Examples of Iagents as aforesaid are those whichare capable .hairing are limed forsolved by extruding through nozzles of 2 mms.

of diminishing or removing the hydrophile properties of the threads orof altering and improving the threads with regard to elasticity,pliability, crimping, lustre or colour. Examples of agents adapted toimprove the properties of the threads are softeners, wetting agents,mordants, fats, colours and the like.

The resulting threads may be worked up alone or in conjunction withother fibres by the methods usually employed in the textile industry,

Examples 1. Neats hides after a liming treatment of about four weeks arewashed and brought by swelling with hydrochloric acid to a dry substancecontent of 12%. The hide material is then resolved with the aid ofrollers and the fibrous mass is homogenized by kneading with water andadjusted to a dry content of 5%. This mass is extruded under a pressureof 500 atms. through tapering nozzles. The thread discharging from thenozzle is dried in the air, whereby it becomes sized on the surface bythe setting of the colloidal substances contained therein, and rinsed.The thread is rendered waterproof by alternately moistening three timeswith a hardening liquid obtained from the distillation of wood and threetimes drying, and can thereafter be again rendered soft, lubricated andcoloured,

2. Pigs skins, after removing the fat, are dehaired by liming, limed foreight days, then washed and acidified with hydrochloric acid. Theresulting fibrous hide paste is extruded through nozzles as described inExample 1. The resulting threads are rendered waterproof by treatmentin. chromium sulphate baths.

3. Calves skins of inferior quality after desix weeks, rinsed andrediameter. The resulting cords of fibrous mass the paste causing the'brought to a water content of and then extruded through nozzles andfurther treated as described in Example 1.

4. Shark skin is washed in cold water, thereafter de-fatted in acetone,softened and freed from scales by one of the usual processes, thereafterlimed for four weeks, partially freed from lime by washing and crushedbetween crushing rollers whilst still in a lime-swollen condition. Theloosened skin is disintegrated in a Hollander into a fine fibrousmaterial and rendered isoelectric. The excess water is removed byexpressing and the resulting fibrous material is adjusted with lacticacid in a kneading apparatus to a pH value of 3.5 and worked up into ahomogeneous paste. The fibrous material obtained is extruded throughtapering nozzles and the thread further worked up as described inExample 1.

5. De-tanned chrome leather parings are subjected to additional limingfor three weeks, thereafter extensively freed from lime in a washingHollander, then partially freed from water by suction, adjusted to a pHvalue of 2.4 with hydrochloric acid, ,thereafter worked up to ahomogeneous pastecontaining 4% of dry substance and extruded throughtapering nozzles under a pressure of atms. The thread discharging fromthe nozzle is dried and conveyed through a chromium sulphate bathcontaining 7% of Glaubers salt as a protection against swelling, rinsed,thereafter introduced for four weeks into a hot, moist chamber for thepurpose of re-tanning, thereafter rinsed, drawn through lubricating anddyeing baths and finally dried under tension.

6. Cattle sinews after two weeks liming are washed with water andswollen with hydrochloric acid. The pH value is adjusted by washing to2.5 to 3.5 and the swollen sinews are crushed between rollers. Theresulting mass is rendered uniform by kneading and extruded throughtapering nozzles into a pickle bath containing 7% of common salt. Inorder to increase its tensile strength the thread is twisted in thepickle bath, thereafter tanned, dried and lubricated.

7. Neats hides after a liming period of four weeks, are washed, broughtto a pH value of 2.8 by the addition of hydrochloric acid and adjustedby the additionof water to a dry content of 12%. The swollen hidematerial is resolved between rollers and the resulting mass is kneadedwith water until it acquires a dry content of 5%. This mass is extrudedthrough continuously tapering nozzles. The threads discharging from thenozzles are taken up on a belt which moves in termittently or in jerksand thereby tears the threads discharging from the nozzles intoartificial fibres of 3-5 cms. length, which are then dried on the beltby -a current of air and are rendered waterproof by repeated moisteningwith I a hardening liquid obtained from wood distillates.

8. Strips of sharks skin arelaid for six weeks I in milk of lime, thelime then removed by washnozzles is eifeeted under periodically changinga chrome tanning bath, where they remain for some time in constantmovement. The threads are conveyed from the chrome bath into the air bymeans of a perforated belt and disposed in a hot moist chamber untilcompletely re-tanned. The threads can then be further lubricated andcoloured. I

9. De-tanned and acidified chrome leather parings are kneaded and theresulting mass is extruded through continuously tapering nozzles. Thethreads discharging from thenozzles are taken up on an intermittentlymoving belt and sprayed with a hardening liquid. The threads are therebytorn into artificial fibres of 3-5 ems.

length and simultaneously rendered waterproof.

10. Cattle sinews, converted by swelling, shredding and kneading withwater with the addition of hydrochloric acid into a slippery fibrouspaste, are extruded through nozzles under periodically changing pressureand the resulting short threads are intercepted in an ammonium chloridepickle. The resulting threads are screened oif, tanned 'with a 10% sumacsolution, stored until completely tanned, washed, dried and thereaftercoloured.

11. Pig skins after removing the fat and dehairing are limed for eightdays, then washed and treated with hydrochloric acid until thoroughlyswollen; The swollen hide material is shredded between rollers and thefibrous mass is homogenized by kneading and adjusted to a dry content of4%. This, paste is extruded under periodically changing pressure into ahydrochloric acid-common salt pickle, in which the resulting shortthreads are twisted individually or in bunches of several threadstogether. The threads are then lubricated and tanned. Alternatively thethreads may be directly intercepted in a tanning bath and be twistedduring the tanning operation. The twisted threads are subjected tochrome tanning and thereafter stored until completely tanned.

What we claim is: v

1. In a process for the manufacture of spun goods, fabrics, and othertextiles employing threads obtained from animal hide material, theimprovement which comprises converting said hide material into a highlyswollen slippery paste which contains at most 20% of dry substance andwhich is substantially free from expressable water by treatment withswelling agents without substantially destroying the fibres,extrudingthe resulting fibrous hide paste under high pressure throughtapering nozzles to produce said threads, drying said threads andrendering said threads waterproof by treatment with tanning agents.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the conversion of the hidematerial into the pasty slippery condition by treatment with swelling.

agents is promoted by mechanical treatment.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein. the

fibrous hide paste contains 6-12% of dry substance. I

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles employed for theproduction of the threads have an outlet diameter of 0.01 to 0.5 mm.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the extrusion of the fibroushide paste through the pressure.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the threads discharging fromthe nozzles are taken up on intermittently moving belts.

'7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the long threads produced byextruding through the nozzles under uniform pressure are divided in thecourse of their further working up into short threads.

8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the threads discharging fromthe nozzles are dried and thereby sized on the surface by the setting ofthe colloidal substances contained therein.

9. A process according to claim 1, wherein the threads discharging fromthe nozzles are twisted individually or several together and arethereafter. dried whereby said threads are sized by the setting of thecolloidal substance contained'there- 10. A'process according to claim 1,wherein the threads discharging from the nozzles are twistedindividually or several together and are simultaneously dried wherebysaid threads are sized by the setting of the colloidal substancecontained therein.

11. -A process according to claim 1, wherein the threads dischargingfrom the nozzles are dried,

twisted and rendered waterproof by treatment- .with tanning agents.

12. As new articles of manufacture dried and tanned filaments composedof collagenous animal fibres of substantially the same length as thosest'antially the same length-as those contained in the natural hideembedded in a colloidal protein substance which filaments have beenformed by expressing a fibrous paste of animal hide material whichcontains at most 20% of dry substance and which is substantially freefrom expressible water and drying the expressed filaments whereby saidfilaments are sized by the setting of the colloidal substance containedtherein.

14. Spun goods, fabrics and other textiles composed of dried and tannedfilaments composed of collagenous animal fibres of substantially thesame length as those contained in the natural hide embedded in acolloidal protein substance which filaments have. been formed byexpressinga fibrous paste of animal hide material which contains at most20% of dry susbtance and which is substantially free from expressiblewater and drying the expressed filaments whereby said filaments aresized by the setting of the colloidal substance contained therein.

OSKAR WALTER BECKER.

HANS FREUDENBERG.

